Nieto, 30, has recorded 15 points (8g/7a) in 45 games for the San Jose Sharks this season. He returns to the Avalanche after spending three-plus seasons with Colorado from 2017-20. The Long Beach, Calif., native was claimed off waivers by the Avs on Jan. 5, 2017 and collected 81 points (34g/47a) in 251 games with the club. He set career highs in games played (74) and goals (15) during the 2017-18 season and reached playoff career bests with four goals and seven points in 2018-19.
A second-round pick (47th overall) of the Sharks in the 2011 NHL Draft, Nieto has totaled 190 points (81g/109a) in 615 career NHL games with San Jose and Colorado and has added 21 points (8g/13a) in 55 career postseason contests. He played in his 600th NHL game on Dec. 20, 2022 vs. Calgary, becoming the second-ever California-born player to reach 600 NHL contests.
The 5-foot-11, 187-pound left wing appeared in 13 career American Hockey League games with the Worcester Sharks from 2012-14, recording 11 points (4g/7a). Prior to turning pro, he played collegiate hockey at Boston University from 2010-13, where he totaled 102 points (44g/58a) in 115 career outings.
Nieto also suited up for the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2008-10, winning back-to-back gold medals with Team USA at the 2009 and 2010 IIHF Under-18 World Championship. He is the fourth California-born player to dress in a game for the Avalanche, joining Scott Parker, Ray Macias and Rocco Grimaldi.
Merkley, 22, has recorded 14 points (0g/14a) in 30 games for the American Hockey League's San Jose Barracuda this season. A first-round selection (21st overall) of the Sharks in the 2018 NHL Draft, Merkley has collected six points (1g/5a) in 39 career games for San Jose. He has produced 44 points (2g/42a) in 93 career AHL contests, all for San Jose.
The 6-foot, 186-pound defenseman recorded 269 points (54g/215a) in 248 career Ontario Hockey League games for the Guelph Storm, Peterborough Petes and London Knights. He led all rookies in assists (43) and points (55) in 2016-17, earning First Team All-Rookie Honors, and paced all league defensemen in assists in 2018-19 (57) and 2019-20 (61).
